An old dog....

Good morning to you!
I am posting up early today as we have a busy day ahead of us...This was supposed to go on here yesterday but there were problems with the BT exchange in our area so no computer ...all day!!!
I had some card orders come in on Friday and one of them is for a Nan's 80th birthday! The theme given to me was a dog in a garden...and this card is an exact copy but without the '80th birthday Nan' quote on it. I loved how it turned out so I wanted one for my stock basket.

I used my very old Sizzix dog die and the last scrap of this beautiful floral paper.
As it was for an older lady I wanted to make it look a bit more vintage so I used a cream background with a darker sage green for the layers. This also ties in with
Die Cut Dreams Challenge this week which is 'Vintage...No colouring allowed'

The butterflies are from my stash and came from Wilkinsons! Layered punched flowers with tiny jewel centres...Martha Stewart doily punch top and bottom.
Other challenges are;
One Stop Craft challenge....'things with wings'
Flutterby Wednesday...'Butterflies, Fairies or Angels'
Bizzy Becs Creatalicious Challenge...'Flowers and wings'
The Creative Cottage Challenge...'Things with wings'

Gold organza ribbon around the centre and just a few ties of the dusky pink.

Thanks for visiting and pop back tomorrow for all the news and gossip from our busy day! Bye for now...♥

"What you doin' up 'ere?"

Good morning girls!
This is the last week-day of the Easter Hols..Ahh. My girls go back to school on Monday to begin the Summer term... I Can't quite believe it!!!
I'm using my favourite Wild Rose Studio stamps and this gorgeously cute Kitten hanging from a tree.

That little bird is saying "Oi! What you doin' up 'ere?"
So, some challenges...
1. Colourcreate...colour combo of 'Lilac, Grey and White'...with an optional extra of some gingham...(Check out the bow)
2. Papertake Weekly...make it 'Cute'

3. Our Creative Corner...'Use a Bow'
4. The ABC Challenge...'Sparkle'...(my flowers have been glittered).

5. Stamping Vacation...Pick 3 challenge.
1.Use any item with a leaf on it...The background floral paper.
2.Use 2 of any embellishment...The spotty lilac buttons.
3.Make something glitter...The flowers.

It's starting to get a little bit sunny out there so I may go and open some doors and windows and do some measuring in the garden...
Thanks for visiting. Please leave me a comment on your way out.
Enjoy your day!

Some 'Distressing' Challenges!

Good morning all...
Thanks for all the lovely comments about my dining table yesterday..It's from a Mexican range bought about 10 years ago...We bought the dresser, bookcase and coffee table as well. So with my tidy table, I got on with some cardmaking.

I fancied some brown earthy colours and I wanted to use some new wooden buttons. My Penny Black horse stamp would be perfect with both of these. I saw lots of challenges that wanted to see some 'Distressing' and I have written before about how I'm not very good at this technique and feel very distressed myself at having to tear and rough up my paper. I prefer to have a clean fresh neat look to my cards...but we all need to get out of our comfort zone every now and again and stretch ourselves...personal growth...blah..blah...blah!

So I found a scrap of sandpaper in the drawer and set to work. I think the buttons work really well as they are naturally a bit distressed anyway.

Finished off with a distressed flower and some garden twine and a rustic button.
This card fits into the following challenges....

1. Penny Black Saturday....'Buttons Galore'
2. Alys Sunday Challenge....'Buttons'
3. Totally Papercrafts....'Distressing'
4. Sophisticats....'So Distressing'
5. Crafty cardmakers....'Challenge Yourself'

In between general housewife/mother/cardmaking duties I am researching a garden makeover. I quite fancy some decking and a summerhouse, but we have a very small garden which is a bit overgrown...so for any crafty gardeners out there,keep watching...I'll post up some photos.
Have a great day...Pop back soon..Bye for now ♥

WOYWW? Not a lot!!!

Hi all...What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday? Julia at 'Stamping Ground' asks this question every week.
I have been doing some tidying up.... and here is the evidence!
Look...you can see the wood!

I have cleared away, put away and thrown away...I moved the table so the edge was right under the window.

Gosh, we could even have a meal in here now!!! We eat in the kitchen on the breakfast bar usually.

I moved this unit from my daughters bedroom and now have all my things in the drawers. It is so tidy! I love it!

This is the only project on the go at the mo...a finished card order for a neighbour and some pink pearl paper daisies that I have been distressing. I used some new buttons for the centre and hope that I can do some challenges today!
We spent a lovely day at a friend's house yesterday...it was so sunny and warm we sat in the garden. Today...not so nice...socks back on!
Have a good day and see you back here soon with some new cards and chat...Bye♥

Sitting Pretty Summer Tilda....

Hi there all...
It's another lovely spring day. We have lots of activity in our small Close this weekend with 2 families moving out and 2 new moving in.
I am trying to tidy the dining room/my work room, which always happens as the weather warms up as it is where I spend a lot of time keeping an eye on my kids playing outside in the park. I get so far sorting through the craft but I always end up just having to make a card!
Todays card uses Summer sitting Tilda and ties in with the Just Magnolia Challenge.
The theme is 'Punch it Out' and I used my MS Doily punch.

I coloured Tilda with PM's and cut and decoupaged her.


The background papers were from my Wild Rose Studio Spring CD and I couldn't resist adding some pink butterflies.

I'm also linking this card into The Craft Garden's April Challenge of 'Pastels'.
Off to do some more tidying!
I'm hoping to see some of the wood on the dining table soon.
If you are off to the movies...'Remember me' with the gorgeous Rob Pattinson is on.
Just take lots of tissues!
Have a great weekend!

Me and My Pet..DT Susie's Sassy Challenge

Hi there all....It's the last Susie's Sassy Challenge....Ahhh!
It has been lovely to be part of her team for the last 6 months and we have had lots of chat and banter on line! Susie runs a couple of other challenges so there is still lots of things to keep her on her toes...I'm hoping to start my Christmas cards soon and so I will be entering her Christmas Card Challenge!
So, the theme for our last challenge, that will run for one week only is...Me and My pet.

We were sent some lovely downloads to have a play with! You can find all the details by clicking on Susie's link in my side bar...I chose this sweet little girl on the swing with her kitten.....

I thought that swing would be tied to a tree so I added some leaves and flowers.

It's a lovely day here today and my girls have friends round...the scooters, bikes and picnis rugs are out. It feels like summer!
I have to go and supervise them so pop back again for some more cards and chat!
Bye for now!

A Natural Pink cat!

Hi all...Hope everyone had a fab day yesterday...me and my girls had a great time at my sisters with her and her partner, his sister and partner and my brother. Eating lots and doing an Easter egg hunt in the garden for the girls.
So todays card...It's this cat again.

Coloured with promarkers and added pencil. Glittery beaded flowers.

And check out that flower. It's huge...This card fits in nicely to the following challenges:
1. The Pink Elephant Challenge....'Nature'
2. Stamp something...want to see 'Pink'

My little one has lost her second tooth about half an hour ago...
Must put the chocolate away, It's obviously strong stuff this year!
Thanks for looking....more chat soon!

A Classic Wild Rose Cat....

Hello...Hope you are having a nice Saturday!
(I had to think what day it was then)....
I've been catching up on some card orders...
Here is a card for one of my neighbours in the close to give to his wife for her birthday next week, and talk about personal. He chose the stamp & the colours!

This is still one of my favourite WRS stamps to work with. I seem to do loads of cards with it but I never have any in stock as they sell so quickly.

I used glitter and beads on the flowers in the cats paws and the big flower in layered up with DCWV petals and a cream prima flower with a glitter brad centre.


I am entering this card into the following challenges:

1. Charisma Cardz...'Animal Magic'
2. Sophisticats...'Raining Cats and Dogs'
3. Papertake Weekly...'Open Theme'

Both my girls have a friend over for a sleepover tonight so I must get on with tea before they arrive...Thanks for stopping by!
Please leave a comment on the way out!
Bye...♥

Just call me... The Bag lady!

Hi All...Happy Good Friday! A lovely day of rest today!
We had a busy family day out yesterday, clothes shopping. I also picked up a parcel from the Post Office... some fab reels of red ribbon that I bought on QVC last week and I couldn't resist 'The Vampire Diaries' set of books. Today I have been watching TV and colouring in some digi images. I've also been sewing recently....

I made this bag using throw aways from the local curtain making shop. They often call me as they know I take the old book samples to the school.

I gave the finished bag to the teacher whose class I have been in while doing my NVQ.
I made another for the Teaching Assistant and will show you that later...
So, whose watching 'The Sound of Music'?
Off to finish some cards now....
Have a great Easter weekend!

Ice cream- pastel dream!

Hello all..
Did you spot the few minutes of sun today? I came over all giddy!
How about a summery card with ice creams, presents and cupcakes...

Vanilla ice ice baby!
I did some more sewing today and completely forgot about the pile of cards that needed to be photographed!

So here is a 'never seen before' card from my last batch of these sweet treat cards.
I am entering this into The Pink Elephant Challenge of 'Pastels'

Easter egg raffle at school tomorrow followed by lots of treats in the staffroom!
Last day of school for a couple of weeks!
Lie-ins and eating hot cross buns! How yummy!
Thanks for all your comments.
Bye for now!

School Production props!

Hi all...no card to show today, but thought I would share with you the bridge and the animals that I made for the production of 'Peace Child' at school last week.




The Bridge and the Crocodile were made from old cardboard boxes!
It's been 'Art day' at school today so I have been helping with handprints and sewing! Lovely!!
More cards tomorrow!
Have a good evening!

Beautiful butterflies...

Good afternoon to you all...
I have been spring cleaning today...first the garden and then little ones bedroom.
The second one wasn't planned. She was ill yesterday and didn't go to school, then 3am this morning ...a little voice woke me up.."Mummy, I've been sick!"
So there has been a full onslaught of washing, cleaning and tidying. She is fine now!

My card today is a Penny Black hedgie having fun with the butterflies!

The background paper is by Dovecraft and is from a designer pack called 'Wild Blossom'. This also has butterflies on it.

I layered up lots of flowers with a brad and added some leaves and ribbon for extra detail!
I'm linking this card to the following challenges:
1. Penny Black Saturday Challenge...'Butterflies and Bees'
2. Charisma cardz...'Spring has sprung'
3. Flutterby Wednesday...Open challenge but you must have a Butterfly or Fairy.
4. Quirky Crafts...'Flowers'

I'm out tonight at a school fundraising 'Quiz and Chips' night with a Disco!
Should be fun... Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great Saturday Night!

SSC DT cards...A Spring garden!

Hello again...It's time to show you my DT cards for Susie's Sassy Challenge!
I chose the theme this time...'A Springtime Garden'
I also wanted to do cards in this theme suitable for men and ladies.

So ..ladies first...spots and ginghams and soft pastel pinks, lilacs and blues!

Aprons, watering cans, lavender plants in terracotta pots.


And now for the MEN!

I used the same layout but using lots of shades of Green!

and I added in some worms and snails!


So many suitable challenges out there... I'm linking in to these...
1. Charisma Cardz...'Spring has Sprung'
2. Colourcreate...Your choice of 'Pastels' and optional extra, Easter/Spring theme.
3. Sweet Stampin...'Spring is in the Air'
4. Fussy and Fancy...'Green'
5. Crafty cardmakers...'Spring into Spring'

I am at home today.
My NVQ file has gone with my assessor and I am just waiting to hear from her but I think we are all done! So looking forward to some time off from being in school and studying and writing at night. Downside is...No Teaching Assisitants positions currently available at the school I have been training in.
I am back in on Monday for ART day and for the Easter Egg Raffle on Wednesday!
I am taking in some yummy cakes for the Teachers then!

I am off to have a cuppa now and put on my new DVD... Twilight..NEW MOON! (squealing in delight).
Hope you come and visit me soon...leave a comment on the way out!